Notes added 09/18/2021
Last year I did manage to find a couple of bottles of 2011 Goudenband in Indianapolis (pictured in the body of this post), but these notes are on a bottle that I bought from Finest Belgian Beers and had shipped over. Blended in 2020. This is the beer pictured as the featured image on this page.
Beautiful pour as ever, and the head looks tremendous. Thin, coffee film like lacing. Deliciously balanced across the board. Gentle sourness play with the complexity of the beer, it never disappoints. Ever.
So easy on the plate, so drinkable, so special. I love this beer.
Notes added 11/2010
After a brief hiatus, Goudenband is BACK in the USA! I picked this up a couple of weeks ago and just got around to cracking the new packaging today.
There seems to be a greater clarity about the body on this new version. Head is small but produces a lovely creamy film on top of the beer. Looks a little better than I remember; +0.5 on the appearance.
Still the same balance of tart and sweet but perhaps a little more emphasis on the fruit angle. Less sweet than my original notes would suggest. This of course, could simply be a palate changing issue.
Still rich in the mouth.
It’s a great beer – still.
Original Review 08/2006
Frankly, I often stay away from Oud Bruins, but at $3.99 for a 750 mL on sale at Whitlock Package in Marietta, GA, USA, it was too difficult to resist. I’m glad I went with it.
Corked and caged, the pop on releasing the cap was worryingly poor. The corked had shriveled to half of its normal size (like a button mushroom), but it revealed the 2004 date stamped on it. Should be good with a couple of years of age on it.
Poured into the Gouden Carolus mini chalice the head is surprisingly good, but the body reveals that nasty Dubbel, dirty brown appearance – always disappoints me. Nice lacing.
Aroma has a hint of sourness, but it’s not big.
Very malty and sweet which is EXTREMELY surprising to me. The sourness only comes through right at the end of the beer and in the aftertaste – not typically sour at all. Creamy in the mouth and the finish has some alcohol too. Very nice mouthfeel.
Delicious and I enjoyed it immensely – another example of why you should persist with styles that are not your favorite!
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